Mitch McConnell sings Trump campaign praises: ‘Sharper operation this time’
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., was all smiles as he congratulated President-elect Trump for his projected win and his fellow Senate Republicans for being projected to retake the majority in the new Congress. McConnell told reporters on Wednesday, “It is certainly a happy day for the GOP.”
Addressing the significance of the projected Trump win, McConnell remarked, “What he’s accomplished has not been done, as all of you know, since Grover Cleveland, which was a while back.” Grover Cleveland was notably the only president to serve non-consecutive terms.
“I also want to commend the Trump campaign for running a sharper operation this time,” McConnell added. He specifically praised Trump campaign managers Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles, saying they “deserve a lot of credit” and “ran a spectacular race.”
The Fox News Decision Desk has projected that Republicans will re-take the Senate majority, flipping three blue seats. There are still several Senate races in battleground states that have yet to be called, meaning their majority could still grow.
McConnell, who announced in February that he would not seek the role of party leader in the new Congress, explained that he “had really hoped I’d be able to hand over to my successor a majority.” He expressed his preference for being in the majority, saying, “Majority is a lot better.”
Despite not having all the results in, McConnell expressed hope that their majority might grow further. He credited National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Steve Daines, R-Mont., for his leadership during the cycle.
McConnell’s praise for the Trump campaign came just days after Trump mocked him at a North Carolina rally. Trump had made fun of McConnell endorsing him earlier in the year, despite their well-documented issues with one another.
At the time, McConnell had said it should not be surprising that he would support the Republican nominee. However, a new book revealed McConnell’s true feelings for Trump, with excerpts describing him as a “sleazeball,” “stupid,” “erratic,” a “despicable human being,” and a “narcissist.”
In the book “The Price of Power” by Michael Tackett, deputy Washington bureau chief of The Associated Press, McConnell’s disparaging remarks about Trump over the years were detailed.
As the GOP celebrates their projected wins in the Senate and the presidency, McConnell’s leadership and the success of the Trump campaign are being recognized. The future of the GOP majority in the Senate looks promising, with the potential for further growth as more results come in.
